PTI claims 10 of 12 Senate seats from KP.

Byline: Zulfiqar Ali and Manzoor Ali

PESHAWAR -- The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) swept the Senate elections from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by winning 10 of the 12 seats of the Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday.

The PTI clinched five general seats, two of technocrats and women each and one of minorities from the province, while the opposition Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) and Awami National Party (ANP) claimed one general seat each.

However, the government's ally, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), failed to secure any Senate seat.

The general seats went to federal information minister Shibli Faraz, Mohsin Aziz, Liaqat Tarakai, Faisal Saleem Rehman and Zeeshan Khanzada of the PTI, Maulana Attaur Rehman of the JUI-F and Haji Hidayatullah Khan of the ANP.

On technocrat seat, PTI's Dost Mohammad Mehsud and Humayun Mohmand emerged winners by securing 59 and 49 votes, respectively. Farhatullah Babar of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who was backed by the joint opposition, lost polls.

On women's seats, PTI's Sania Nishtar and Falak Naz Chitrali won polls. Gurdeep Singh of the PTI claimed the minority seat by securing 103 votes.

CM insists opposition failed to 'buy' loyalty of ruling party members

PML-N's Abbas Afridi and BAP's Taj Mohammad Afridi lost election for general seats.

Meanwhile, voting for the Senate elections was held inside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly smoothly on Wednesday setting to rest all speculations about the use of money and wheeling and dealing among political parties.

The assembly building, which was declared polling station for the election, witnessed hustle and bustle amid stringent security arrangements in and outside the premises.

The police, Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary personnel were deployed.

Interestingly, rumours were rife that JUI-F candidate Maulana Attaur Rehman would lose election. However, they turned out to be untrue as Mr Rehman remained victorious.

Provincial Election Commissioner Sharifullah was the returning officer for the election for which polling began at 9am.

A total of 145 MPAs cast votes. Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal member Hidayatur Rehman cast the first vote followed by his colleague, Inayatullah Khan.

The returning officer issued fresh ballot papers to thirteen lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties after they inadvertently spoiled their first ballot papers. Those, who were given ballot papers twice, included Sumaira Shamus, Sirajuddin, agriculture minister Muhibullah...